Education with Qualified Teacher Status Integrated Masters

• Achieve an integrated masters degree and the recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status on this innovative new teaching course
• Undertake varied school placements to develop your professional skills
• Prepare for future leadership roles by gaining problem solving and advanced research skills at master's level
• Choose from a range of curriculum enhancement options to tailor the course to your interests and career ambitions
• Learn from our passionate and experienced team who are committed to helping you become the best teacher you can be.

You may also be interested in our three-year BEd (Hons) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status.

Outstanding at teaching the teachers, our 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating speaks for itself.

What is an integrated masters?

Our four-year Integrated Masters in Education (MEdu) (in curriculum enhancement) with Qualified Teacher Status combines undergraduate and masters level study, providing you with the opportunity to develop advanced research skills. It is an ideal way to fund postgraduate study, as student loan funding is available for all four years of your full-time study.

In your third and fourth year, you will study masters level modules that will develop your ability to address complex issues and hone your critical thinking skills. You will also be able to select a curriculum enhancement which will be named on your degree.

The ideal introduction to teaching and academic thinking

Our new MEdu with Qualified Teacher Status builds on the strong reputation of our BEd (Hons) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status. This course will prepare you for the practical demands of primary teaching, informed by critical awareness of current issues and underpinned by your own research. 

You will combine school-based and university-based training, supported by our partnership of quality assured primary, infant, junior, middle and special schools. Graduating with our MEdu with Qualified Teacher Status will put you in an attractive position for career development.

This course aims to:

• Develop outstanding teachers within the primary age phase who are resilient, critical, and reflective classroom practitioners, and who have the confidence to challenge policy, practice and ways of teaching
• Equip you with advanced teaching and academic skills to support professional and transformative practice that is inclusive and sensitive to the learning needs of children to ensure good outcomes for all
• Foster an inquiry based approach to understanding of methods of teaching, subject knowledge and skills
• Develop an understanding of inspirational and innovative classroom practice to motivate, challenge and empower learners
• Establish your personal and professional philosophy of education which will underpin practice
• Harness knowledge, skills and understanding to effectively lead, manage and work collaboratively with other professionals, agencies and the wider community to ensure the wellbeing and holistic development of all learners
• Enable you to focus on a particular aspect of a broader subject area through curriculum leadership and management modules, fostering skills in a specialised area of practice
• Develop a rigorous approach to the interrogation of complex educational issues through a personalised dissertation, utilising a range of techniques and research methods
• Gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the discipline informed by current scholarship and research, including critical awareness of current issues and developments in the subject.

Rich and varied placements

We’re passionate about preparing you for a rewarding career in teaching. You’ll undertake a placement in a different school during each year of the course. Throughout these placements, experienced teachers will provide ongoing mentor support.

To gain an understanding of the whole primary phase, you’ll build your skills working with different year groups. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a placement in a special educational needs setting to allow you to appreciate and respond to the diverse needs of children.

Our dedicated Placement Unit will help you to find the right settings and opportunities, drawing on our partnerships with around 400 schools across the region.

Curriculum enhancement

You’ll have the opportunity to tailor the course to your interests and career aspirations. At the beginning of your studies, you will gain a broad foundation of knowledge and as the course progress, you will be able to select a curriculum enhancement. Possible options may include English, Mathematics, Science and Computing, Humanities, Creative Arts, Primary Foreign Languages, SEND and Physical Activity. You will also conduct a masters level dissertation where you will research an area of your own interest in depth.

In the fourth year, the Curriculum Leadership and Management module builds on your stage three curriculum enhancement. You’ll develop your subject specialism further and focus on subject and curriculum leadership.

Learning beyond the classroom

Social justice lies at the heart of the course so we encourage our students to give something back to the local community. You’ll be able to take part in community projects working with children and staff in settings such as charities, galleries, museums and schools.

A welcoming community

We pride ourselves on offering a friendly, welcoming learning environment where you will receive plenty of guidance and encouragement. Our approachable teaching team are dedicated and passionate about their subjects. You’ll be taught by influential researchers and published authors whose work is helping to shape the future of the teaching profession. Visiting specialists will also deliver thought-provoking guest lectures.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Supported by expert colleagues, you’ll learn through lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, guest speakers, and creative partners. School placements are a vital part of your development, and you’ll also have the opportunity to broaden your experiences through museum visits, overseas school visits, and visits to special educational needs settings, early years and Key Stage 3 settings.

Work placements

During the course, you'll spend approximately 36 weeks on placement in a number of different schools. This will include a mixture of placements from EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) through to the end of Key Stage 2. During this time you will be supported by mentors and subject specialists.

How you're assessed

There are no exams, so you’ll be assessed through essays, personal reflections, presentations, posters, reports, tests, and audits. During the first three years of the course, you will undertake an assessed placement. In your final year, your placement will not be assessed.

When you graduate, you'll be ready to teach in a primary school. As a newly qualified Early Career Teacher with an integrated masters degree, you will be prepared for future leadership roles - the insights into curriculum management gained on the course will position you to take responsibility for subject areas early in your career.

Our Early Career Teachers are highly regarded in the education sector and many of our graduates go on to secure jobs in schools where they undertook their placements.

You will also benefit from our continued support as you begin your career. We offer our Early Career Teachers a range of resources, subject updates, events, conferences and development opportunities to aid your transition into professional practice.

You may also wish to continue your studies on our Doctor of Education.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

• A reference is required in support of your application. If applying via UCAS then this must be submitted from a professional email address. This can be from a school/College or previous employer. If applicants are applying directly then this must be supplied as a PDF on official letterhead and must be signed and dated.
  
  
• All qualifications will need to be certified from the awarding boards. Copies can be accepted but all relevant qualifications will need to verified in person either at interview or at enrolment or a set date that will be confirmed once enrolment has been completed.
  
  
• Photographic ID is also required and must be verified in person either at interview or enrolment. We can accept Passports/Driving License/Provisional Driving License.
  
  
• A personal statement is mandatory for these courses and must indicate why you wish to study the course in detail and must be specific to education.

Additional entry requirements

• Interview: Yes view interview details
• An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate cleared by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this once you have applied
• A Prohibition List check will automatically be carried out after Firm acceptance of an offer has been received
• An Occupational Health Assessment and Clearance by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this when required

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Other courses you might like

• Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status BEd (Hons)
• PGCE Primary with Qualified Teacher Status
• Primary (Provider-Led, School-based - with Qualified Teacher Status

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Learn more about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Derby